O.C. Surfer of the Year winners announced

July 8, 2014

Updated 3:59 p.m.

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Jon Rose, founder of Waves for Water, poses with a refillable bottle near a free water station during the Hurley Pro at Trestles. The project is meant to encourage refilling water bottles instead of buying new plastic ones. EUGENE GARCIA , STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

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Greg Long surfs on his way to winning the Quiksilver Eddie Aikau contest in 2009. Long is the winner of the 2014 OC Standout Surfer of the Year award. MICHAEL GOULDING , STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

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Tia Blanco of San Clemente has had a stellar year at the National Scholastic Surfing Association contests. FRED SWEGLES , STAFF

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Newport Beach local Alex Knost is known for his unique longboard style, and can be frequently seen at Blackies in Newport Beach. He is this year's O.C. Freesurfer of the Year. , COURTESY OF TOM COZAD

Jon Rose, founder of Waves for Water, poses with a refillable bottle near a free water station during the Hurley Pro at Trestles. The project is meant to encourage refilling water bottles instead of buying new plastic ones. EUGENE GARCIA , STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Four local surfers have been selected for this year’s O.C. Surfer of the Year awards and will be honored on Aug. 1 during the Surfers’ Hall of Fame ceremony.

A panel picked the most deserving surfers to receive the awards, which are put on by the Orange County Register each year. Now in its sixth year, the roster of recipients has grown to an impressive list, with surfers such as Brett Simpson, Kolohe Andino, Courtney Conlogue, Dane Guduaskas and more joining surfers honored with the award.

The four surfers selected will be recognized at the Surfers’ Hall of Fame ceremony, at 10 a.m. on Aug. 1 in front of Huntington Surf and Sport at Main and Pacific Coast Highway. Here are this year’s winners:

OC Standout Surfer of the Year: Greg Long

What hasn’t Greg Long been through in the past couple years? He clinched the Big Wave World Tour title in 2012-2013, got a taste of Hollywood while acting as a stuntman for the film Chasing Mavericks, and earned a $50,000 paycheck after getting the Billabong XXL Ride of the Year in April.

Long is more than just a big-wave rider. Sure, he’s made his name taking on building-size waves about 40 to 50 feet. But he’s got heart, a passion for taking this sport to the next level, and all around he’s just a good guy.

The entire surf world couldn’t believe it when news hit that he nearly drowned while taking on massive waves at Cortes Bank in December 2012. Cortes Bank is a big-wave break about 100 miles west of Point Loma in San Diego, and about 50 miles southwest of San Clemente Island.

He lost consciousness after getting pounded by waves, and needed to be airlifted out by the United States Coast Guard.

And then, he went back. He vowed to never surf Cortes again, but couldn’t help but face his fears just two months later.

He had some wise words after nearly dying.

“Enjoy the whole experience, the ups and downs,” Long said. “There's beauty to be found in every single moment, especially the challenging ones, the ones that can create heartache and vulnerability. Those are the most beautiful of your life, the ones you are going to grow from.”

OC Rising Star of the Year: Tia Blanco

This young surfer has been on the radar for years, but this year she’s been a force on the National Scholastic Surfing Association circuit, winning nearly every contest through the season.

“Her improvement this year has skyrocketed,” said NSSA executive director Janice Aragon. “Her focus about getting the contest jersey on and competing, her skill level has really just shot through the roof this year.”

Blanco, 17, was born in Puerto Rico but has lived in San Clemente for many years. She already has some big sponsors including Reef, J7 Surfboards and Sticky Bumps.

Her favorite surf spots includes Lowers, and the biggest wave she’s surfed was in Tahiti. Other hobbies include painting, hiking and yoga. She’s a member of the Surfing America surf team, and came in third at the International Surfing Association’s World Junior Surfing Championship.

The vegan surfer also recently became a spokesperson for PETA.

OC Ambassador of the Year: Jon Rose/Waves 4 Water

Jon Rose, a former pro surfer who grew up in Laguna Beach, was on a surf trip in Indonesia when a massive earthquake hit in 2009.

As Rose reached the demolished land, he didn’t hesitate to scour the city to get water filters to people in need.

Sitting down with Rose when he got home was one of the most memorable interviews I’ve ever had. He was still shaken from the experience, haunted by the voices calling out from under buildings.

He was at a fork in the road, and he chose a path that has saved countless lives, dedicating his own to getting clean water to people in need with the non-profit Waves 4 Water. It’s been an honor for me to document the journey.

“It was born out of the simple idea of wanting to return to a couple of the places I had traveled during my surfing career and give a little something back,” he wrote in an e-mail from the field. “I could have never anticipated that I would be in Afghanistan or North Korea a few years later. Or that we would provide millions of people with access to clean water in the same short time.”

When a massive earthquake, tsunami, flood, or other natural disaster hits, no matter where in the world, you can be sure that Rose and his team at Waves 4 Water are there helping. He’s spent nearly a year living in Haiti, has gone to Afghanistan and worked alongside troops, and this year is working on a project in the Philippines.

“Personally, it reminds me that we can really create whatever we want in this world - if we can think it, we can create it,” he wrote. “I am always excited for tomorrow because I know something amazing that I could have never anticipated can happen at any moment. All we have to do is be there answer the call.”

OC Freesurfer of the Year: Alex Knost

When I asked our friends at “Ghetto Juice” magazine who their pick was for this year’s Freesurfer of the Year award, a category the Newport Beach surf magazine sponsors, it didn’t take long for co-founder Skip Snead to tell me his pick: Alex Knost.

“Alex is the epitome of today's freesurfer, showing us that you don't have to ride the standard 5-foot, 10-inch thruster to be one of the best surfers in the world,” said Snead. “Alex rides just about any board, in any type of condition, travels the world, plays in a band and is having more fun than half the surfers grinding it out on the ASP World Tour.”

The Vans-sponsored surfer will showcase his skills during the U.S. Open of Surfing for the Joel Tudor Invitational.

I’ve been lucky enough to be out on days when Knost paddles out at Blackies, and his style on a longboard is pure art. His grace while walking on the board is unmatched, and I couldn’t agree more with Snead in picking the Newport surfer as this year’s Freesurfer of the Year.

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